Happy Christmas 2008 everyone.
The children and husband had a wonderful time. DH seemed truly happy with his presents, Puppy enjoyed watching 'The Snowman' 3 times yesterday, as well as making up a jigsaw from his paternal grandmother and Ratty just enjoyed putting everything in her mouth. Christmas dinner was reasonably successful, and there is loads of washing up waiting to be done. I'd better go do it, hadn't I?

In memoriam





Cynthia Carrington Barrett
15.11.1924 - 10.11.2008
RIP

Ratty is now almost 8 months old, and really really happy!



Puppy is 2.5 years old and more interested in trains than smiling for the camera.

It's amazing to see how a child develops. Since the summer, Puppy has shown a keen interest in expanding his knowledge. He can now count to 12, read letters of the alphabet and identify colours. He has also in most part mastered use of the potty during the daytime, to the extent of emptying waste contents and flushing the loo! We still have work to do on washing his hands after going to the loo though.

In the meantime, Ratty is now almost 7 months old. She is moving around with ease, and in the early stages of babbling. Weaning is still a bit of hit and miss, although her lower left central incisor sprouted a couple of days back.

My children are growing up!

Puppy's potty training seems to be going well. A fortnight before he resumes attending nursery, I am hopeful that he will be able to request a toilet break while he is there. We started him on wearing his underwear today, after three weeks of running starkers in the house. There were a couple of accidents, but by the end of the day, he was lowering his pants before sitting on the potty. Putting the pants back on is another matter!

Ratty seems to have overcome her tongue-thrust reflex. Having stared longingly at our food all week in the Cotswolds, I decided to try her with some baby rice. She devoured about 2 tablespoons of the stuff at lunch, and another 2 tablespoons at dinner, and seemed keen on more. More baby rice till the end of the week, and I reckon we will then start on the really fun stuff!

In memoriam





Joan Bridge
22.02.1929 - 27.07.2008
Eternal rest grant unto her soul.
RIP

Puppy has restarted potty training. He seems a little more willing to cooperate now, rather, willing to 'tell' us about his #1 and #2 status. So far, he's done a few #1s in the potty, and a #2, although half of it went on the carpet. Thank God for a fibrous diet!

Onto more pleasant news - Ratty is now 20 weeks old, 6.89kg (15lb 3oz), 63.5cm (25"). She is smiling a lot and loves chatting, particularly in the mornings and before dinner, i.e. times when her brother isn't around.

Holidays - Going to Brittany was a good decision. Tiring drive, but I rather enjoyed going at 130kph (80mph) on the motorways with nobody in front of me! Driving on the 'wrong' side of the road wasn't as daunting as feared.....we hope to be back, so Lobsters, you have been warned!


'Wonder when I can sink my teeth into this?'


'Fresh croissants are worth waking up early for!'


'Yay! Make another one daddy!'


'Thoroughly enjoying myself on holiday'


'Of course you enjoy yourself, especially when Mummy is carrying you about all day!'

The difference between boys and girls is:


Puppy@12 weeks - 'Cool gadget!'



Ratty@15weeks - 'I've got daddy's PIN number at last!'

Por Por returned home on 14 June 2008. We had a nice day out prior to her departure:


Rose garden in Hampton Court - smelling pretty!


Who has the nicer pose?


'Take that Andrew Flintoff!'


Seeing Por Por off....Boo Hoo!


Nevermind, I still have Por Por's chicken for company.

Apparently I live in the 14th richest town in Britain, not that I am one of the well-to-do folk that live in the seven figure houses - I just drive past on the way to the Sainsbury in Basildon. The fact that I am living in a place that I can't afford was made very clear over the weekend when our family was in Manchester for the game against Arsenal (we won 2-1 by the way!). On recommendation from Puppy's godmother, we decided to go to the local chippy in Prestwich, which was better in quality and significantly cheaper than the one we usually go to in Hutton. The Chinese next door wasn't bad either, and certainly cheaper than the one in Ingatestone. Before you say anything, Prestwich isn't one of the dodgy areas in Manchester, but a reasonably affluent bit - it has a large M&S supermarket and good enough schools*. House prices? 30-50% off what you would pay in the '14th richest town in Britain'.

* To be fair, the schools around Ingatestone are outstanding, but they would have to be in order to cater to parents with outstanding pay packets.

Ratty's baptism last week progressed without too many hiccups, considering the week it was in. She didn't bother rousing from her sleep when Father David poured the water over her head, nor flinch when he marked her with the oils. She did give a very loud cry later on though, but that was only through hunger!


Family photo


Proud Godfather, Richard

Por Por had hoped to experience her first snowfall this winter. She finally got her wish.......in March.


'I'm dreaming of a white......Easter'?!!


'Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow'


'Springtime Wonderland'

Last night was the first time we made a conscious effort to commence potty training with Puppy. He managed to do a wee while watching 'In the Night Garden', and this morning, did a poo in his potty while reading some books.

Too good to be true?

Soon, all will be revealed.

Ratty's finally come to stay! 3.23kg (7lb 2oz) at 3.11pm on 8 March 2008. VBAC as well!


Puppy has a new playmate


Feeling happy with the world


Mother and child

Days before Ratty is due to emerge, Puppy decides he wants his cot back. I found him looking at the cot with all intent (more the mobile), decided to ignore him and do something. When I turned back, Puppy was sitting in the cot, saying hello and kissing the soft toy animals. Ahhhh, so sweet, but remember no climbing into cot when Ratty arrives!

Puppy's taken to watching TV big time now.....his favourite is In the Night Garden. He's already got a singing/dancing IgglePiggle toy for Christmas, the programme songbook, learnt the actions to the Tombliboo song, blow kisses like Upsy Daisy, and goodness knows what else is to come. Can't pry him away from it at all, lest the mother of all tantrums rain down on you!

Any bets on square eyes wearing glasses by the time he's 3?

The latest tables on maternity services in England place the hospital trust where Puppy was born as 'least well performing'. Somehow I'm not surprised, considering my experiences during and post labour, as well as current knowledge about its maternity services. On the other hand, the hospital trust that I'm using for Ratty's birth has so far, in its antenatal care, been wonderful. We shall see if I still feel that way in 6 weeks though!